Acetylene-gas generator.



P. F. WILLIS; AGETYLENB GAS GENERATOR. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 10, 1912.

$039,939 a I Patented Sept. 24, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

wizzflglemv j k P. F. WILLIS. AOETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

Q PLIOATION FILED FEB. 10,1912.

Patented Sept. 24,1912.

2 BHEETSBHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

rater. r. wILLIs,- or ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

ACETYLENE-GAS GENERATOR.

- improved means for delivering the carbid automatically to the water only as needed and in such a manner that the ca-rbid will be completely decomposed in the water to provide for maintaining a uniform pressure within the generator, to minimize resistance of the working parts of the. mechanism for feeding the carbid; and to attain certain other advantages as will hereinafter more fully appear.v

The invention consists in the parts and in the arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed. .i

In the accompanying drawings which" form part of this specification and wherein like symbols refer to like parts wherever they occur,Figure 1 is a. view partly in? vertical section and partly in side.=elevation showing an acetylene-gas generator embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan view and a horizontal section on the line 2--2'of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a top plan view, a portion of the cover being removed to show the device for automatically covering the fillingopenings: and Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4T4t of Fig. l.

The generator comprisesa tank 1 of any desirable construction. In the upper portion of the tank is mounted a carbid-receptat-1e 2 whose upper walls are cylindrical and lower walls tapered or conical to constitute a hopper 2 Slidably fitted in a central opening in the bottom of the receptacle 2 is a cylinder 3.

Preferably, 2. depending fiange 2 is provided around the opening in the bottom of the receptacle so as to' steady the cylinder 3; and said flange is preferably crimped or corrugated to minimize the contact'surface to reduce friction and permit powdered particles of carbid to sift through without causing the cylinder to bind.

The cylinder 3 is mounted at itslower end on a spider 4 which is secured at its central Specification of Letters Patent. Pa,tenfed Sept. 24,1912.

Application filed February 10, 1912. Serial No. 676,741.

port-ion to a tube 5 extending axially through the cylinder. The upper end portion of the tube 5 is of smaller interior diameter than the lower portion and screw-threaded so as to work uponthe screw-threaded lower por-- tion 6 of a vertical shaft 7. The shaft 7 extends up through the cover 8 of the tank where it is supported on a tube 9 fixedly mounted on said cover 8. Rotatably fitted over the tube 9 is a sleeve 10 in whose upper end portion'a plug 11 is fixedly secured. The shaft 7 is secured fixedly to this plug 11 by having its upper end portion reduced in diameter, as at 12, and fitted in a central opening in said plug 11 and secured by a nut 13.

On the lower portion of the sleeve 10 is a pinion 14 which meshes with agear 15 journaled loosely on a stud or spindle 15' secured to the top of the cover 8. This gear 15 has a drum 16 fixed thereto, about which is wound a cord 17. The cord is carried over a pulley 18 and is provided at its end with a weight 19. By this arrangement the sleeve 10*is rotated on the tube 9 and the shaft 7 is, of course, rotated therewith.

Fixed with respectto the sleeve 10 and pinion 14, so as to rotate therewith, is a gear 20. "This .gear meshes with a pinion 21 journaled on top of the cover 8. Fixed to the pinion 21 is a gear 22which meshes with a pinion 23 fixed to a spindle 24 journaled on the cover 8' This spindle 24 has a pair of arms 25 fixed thereto on which are slidably mounted weights '26. The arms 25 rot-rig. within a circular housing 27 and the weights 26 are thrown against the circular wall of said housing 27 by centrifugal force and by friction govern the-speed of the motor.

Sleeved loosely on the shaft 7 so as to slide freely lengthwise over the screwthreaded ortion 6 thereof, is a hub member 28 which rests on the" upper end of the tubular member 5 and isprovided with a pin which projects into a longitudinal slot or groove 29 in the screw-threaded portlon 6 of the shaft- 7, so that. the hub rotates with ,the shaft but is permitted endwise movement thereon at the same time. This hub member 28 is provided with horizontal arms 30 which project over the end portion of the cylinder 3 so as to serve as scrapers or sweepers to move the carbid from the receptacle 2 into said cylinder 3. Preferably, the ends of the arms or sweepers 30 are provided with resilient fingers 31 which contact with the carbid. As shown, these the shaft 7 is rotated the cylinder 3 is moved endwise by the action of the screwthreaded portion 6 of the shaft 7 and the tube 5. which is fixedly connected tothe cylinder. The uppermost position of the cylinder 3 is limited by the central portion of the spider-4 coming in contact with the endof the shaft 7; and its lowermost position is limited by the hell or spreader 33 contactingwith the horizontal member of the yoke 34.

To raise the cylinder 3 and agitating device to uppermost or initial position the I so shaft 7 is rotated in a direction reverse to that effected by the motor. This may be accomplished by rotating the drum 1.6 to rewind the cord 17 thereon, thereby driving the train of gears reversely.

In theuppermost positionof the cylinder 3 its upper end is a considerable distance below the under side of the'cover 8 so that when the carbid is filled in around the cylinder, the upper surface of "the carbid is dished. That is, the surface slopes from the upper edgeof the side wall 2 down to the upper end -,of the cylinder 3. Consequently, as the shaft 7 is rotated and the cylinder 3 thereby moved downward, and the sweeper arms 30 being. rotated with the shaftandfollowin the cylinder downward, thecarhid is disc arged from the upper portion' bf the receptacle through the cylinder 3 whereupon it is deflected by the bell or spreader 33 before it falls into the water at the bottom of the'tank 1.

In the cover 8 are two filling-openings which are closed byplugs or ,caps35 .(see

Figs. 2 and 3). These openings are directly above the spacebetween the wall of the receptacle 2 and the cylinder 3 so that'the carbid will not be accidentally dropped through the cylinder in filling the receptacle. To prevent the receptacle from being filled before the cylinder has been raised.

to its uppermost position, a safety device is preferably provided to cover the fillingopenings during the time the cylinder is at any point below its uppermost position. This device as shown comprises a plate 36 which is swiveled near the under side of the cover 8. A spring 37 is attached to this plate so as to normally hold it against a stop 38 in which position the filling-openings are covered. The plate 36 is provided with 9. depending pin'39 against which one full lines in said Fig. 3.

Surrounding .the. upper portion of the sleeve 10 is a hollow casing 40 whose lower portion 41 has a working fitupon said sleeve. The upper portion of this casing 40 is flared somewhat to give a large surface area toits top wall, and in the lower portion is placed a body of oil 42. This oil constitutes a gas seal and also serves to lubricate the bearings. For this purpose the sleeve 10 is provided with perforations 10 to allow the oil to come-in contact with the tube 9.

Removable weights 43 are placed on top of the casing 40 and added to or taken from, depending upon the desired pressure to be maintained in the generator. 'Pivoted to the lower portion 41 of the casing, as by slot and pin-connection, is a lever 44 which is pivoted on the housing 27 and is-hooked as at 45, said hooked portion I working through a perforation in the wall of said housing 27. By this arrangement the'pressure generated in the tank 1 is likewise communicated to the casing 40 through a space 46 between the tube 9 and shaft 7 and openings 47 provided in the plug 11 which supports the shaft 7. When the pressure the lower end portion of the cylinder when the latter is in its lower position a cylindrical shell 48 is secured to the bottom of the receptacle 2 and is of such length that the cylinder is inclosed at all times. By this arrangement, the cylindrical shell 48 cooperates with the bell 33 to protect the cylinder 3.

An acetylene-gas generator constructed and arranged as herein set forth is automatic in operation and the pressure can be maintained uniformly with but aslight momentary variation. The carbid is fed automatically in uniform quantity as required pressure. .1.

, through the cylinder 3.

P top .ofthe tubular member therein terminating initially for such receptacle, means Obviously, the device admits of considerable modification without departing from mv invention. Therefore, be limited to the specific construction and arrangement shown.

What I claim 1s:

1. In an acetylene-gas generator, a carbid-receptacle having a vertically-movable open-ended tubular member constituting the carbid-outlet for such receptacle, and pressure-controlled mechanical means cooperating with said tubular member so as to suport it with its upper end initially near the receptacle and adapted to effect an intermittent-1y progressive movement of the tubular member downward.

2. In an acetylene-gas generator, a'carbid-receptacle having a vertically-movable near the top of the receptacle and constituting a carbid-outlet for such receptacle, means including a motor for progressively lowering said tubular member, and a pressure-controlled brake for said motor. v

- 3. In an acetylene-gas generator, a carbid-receptacle having a vertically-movable tubular'member constituting a carbid-outlet for such receptacle, and means for moving the carbid in said receptacle to said tubular member.

4. In an acetylene-gas generator, 2 'carbid-receptacle having a vertically-movable tubular member constituting a carbid-outlet for progressively moving said tubular member, and means co operating with said tubular member for moving the carbid thereto.

-5. In an acetylene-gas generator, a carbid-receptacle having a vertically-movable tubular member constituting a' carbid-outlet for such receptacle, and a rotatorv de vice for moving the carbid to said tubular member.

6. In an acetylene-gas generator, at carbid-receptacle having a vertically-movable tubular member constituting a carbid-outlet for such receptacle, and a rotatory device for feeding the carbid to said tubular member, said rotatory device operating in continuous correlation to the upper end of said tubular member.

7. In an acetylene-gas generator, a carbid-receptacle having a vertically-mo'.-'able tubular member constituting a carbid-outlet for such receptacle, and a device for moving the carbid to said tubular member comprising a rotatory arm having a resilient finger engaging the carbid ad acent to said tubular member.

8. An acetylene-gas generator comprising a closed tank having a carbid-receptacle therein, said receptacle having an opening in its bottom, a vertically-disposed tubular I do not wish to opening member mounted to move through the opening in said receptacle, means for holding said tubular member from rotating but permittmg endwise movement thereof, means for progressively lowering said tubular member, and means operating in continuous correlation to the upper end of said tubular member for moving the carbid thereto.

9. In an acetylene-gas generator, a carb id-receptacle having a tapered bottom having acentral opening, a vertically-disposed tubular member therein terminating initially near the top of the receptacle and movable through said opening and constituting the carbid-outlet for said receptacle, means including a motor for progressively lowering said tubular member, and a pressure-controlled brake for said motor.

10. An acetylene-gas generator comprising a closed tank having a carbid-receptacle there-in, said receptacle having an opening in its bottom, a vertically-disposed tubular member mounted to move through the opening ins-aid receptacle, means for holding said tubular member from rotating but permitting endwise movement thereof, means for progressively lowering said tubular member, and means operating adjacent to the top of said tubular member for moving the carbid thereto.

, 11. An acetylene-gas generator comprising a. closed tank, a carbid-receptacle therein, said carbid-receptacle having an opening in its bottom, a vertically-disposed tubular member movable through said opening and constituting the carbid-outlet for said receptacle, and a deflector movable with said tubular member adjacent the lower .end thereof.

12. An acetylene-gas generator comprising a closed tank, a carbid-receptacle therein, said carbid-receptacle having an opening in its bottom, a vertically-disposed tubular member movable through saidopening and constituting the carbid-outlet for said receptacle, a deflector movable with said tu-- bular member adjacent to the lower end thereof, and a tubular extension on the bottom of said carbid-receptacle surrounding said tubular member and deflector and spaced therefrom. I 13. In an'acet-ylene-gas generator, a carbid-receptacle provided with a tapered bottom having a central opening therein, said being surrounded by a. depending corrugated flange, and a vertically-dispose tubular member movable through said opening in'contact with said flange. 14. In anacetylene-gas generator, a closed tank, a carbid-receptacle therein, said carbid-receptacle having an opening in its bottom, a vertically-disposed tubular member movable through said opening and constituting the carbid-outlet for said receptacle, a vertically-disposed shaft having a screwmember, means for holding said tubular member from rotating but permitting endwise movement thereof, whereby such endwise movement is given to it when said shaft is rotated, and a device rotatable with said shaft and movable lengthwise thereof in cooperative relation to the upper end of said tubular member for moving the carbid to the latter.

15. In an acetylene-gas generator, a closed tank, a carbid-receptacle therein, said carbid-receptacle having an opening in its bot-- tom, a vertically-disposed tubular member movable through said opening and constitute ing the carbid-outlet for said receptacle, a vertically-disposed shaft having a screwthreaded engagement with said tubular member, means for holding said tubular member from rotating but permitting endwise movement thereof, whereby such endwise movement is given to it when said shaft is rotated, a device rotatable with said shaft and movable lengthwise thereof in coopera-- tive relation to the upper end of said tubular member for moving the carbid to the latter, a motor for rotating said shaft, and

a pressure-controlled device for stopping said moto r.-

16. In an acetylene-gas generator, a carbid-receptacle, a device for feeding the carbid from said receptacle, said device comprising as' an element a rotatory shaft, a motor operatively connected to said shaft, a tubular extension from said generator surrounding said shaft, and a pressure-controlled device comprising a closed hollow shell slidably fitted on said tubular extension, a brake for the motor, and an actuating lever for said brake operatively connected to said closed shell.

17. In an acetylene-gas generator, a carbid-receptacle having an opening in its bottom and a cover, a. vertically-movable tubular member working through the opening in thebottom of said receptacle, the cover for said receptacle having a filling-opening between the side wall and said tubular mem- -ber, an automatically-operable device for 18. In an acetylene-gasgenerator, a carbid-receptacle, a vertically-movable outlet;

tube for said receptacle, a cover for said carbid-receptacle having a filling-opening between the Side wall of said receptacle and said outlet-tube, a rotatory device mounted adjacent to the cover of the receptacle and adapted to cover the filling-opening therein,

resilient means for holding said rotatory de-' vice normally in covering position, and means for automatically moving said rotatory device out of covering position as said outlet-tube reaches its highest position.

19. In an acetylene-gas generator, a closed tank, a carbid-receptacle in the upper part of said tank, said carbid-receptacle having an opening in its bottom, a vertically-disposed tubular member mounted to slide through said opening, an axial tubular member secured to said first-mentioned tubular member, a vertical shaft having a screw-- member, a. vertical shaft having a screwthreaded engagement with said axial tubular member, means, for holding said tubularmember from rotatingbut permitting endwise movement thereof whereby such movement is effected when said shaft is rotated, means for rotating said shaft, and a device rotatable with said shaft and movable lengthwise thereof in continuous correlation to the upper end of said first-mentioned tubular member for moving the carbid to the latter. Signed at St. Louis, Missouri; this 2nd day of February, 1912.

PRIOR F. WILLIS.

Witnesses:

G. A. PENNINGTON, PAULINE AMBERG. 

